This year’s Taiwan Pride Float at the New York City Pride March was inspired by Taiwan’s Betel Nut Beauty culture. The concept and design was conceived by Nymphia Wind, who was already an established drag queen in Taiwan when she won RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 in 2024.
Nymphia dedicated her win to Taiwan and that same year Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen congratulated Nymphia and invited her to perform at the presidential office. In 2024 Nymphia also appeared on the Taiwan Pride Float at the New York City Pride March. In 2025 Nymphia performed at the Paris Cultural Olympiad.
Right before the New York City Pride March on Sunday, June 28th, we were invited to an event where Nymphia shared her creative vision behind this year’s Taiwan Pride float. We also had a chance to meet the other betel nut beauties Yolanda Mesula and Tina Banana, who would be joining Nymphia on the float. After Nymphia’s initial comments, I did have a chance to ask her a question and to get some other soundbites.
Related Links:
Nymphia Wind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/66wind99/
Nymphia Wind is ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ 16th winner: https://youtu.be/8dGwarpFSrQ?si=UiFguNmI4Bji7aWdNymphia Wind & Sapphira Cristál’s Lip Sync For The Crown 👑 RuPaul’s Drag Race: https://youtu.be/ZUmqO9BFcvA?si=PcqlIqEjrvoG4-M9
Nymphia Wind Voices Support for Taiwanese Identity at Paris Olympiad (2025): https://youtu.be/uSwSfOvfDVQ?si=E1Y0XeC7QT5E3Wq7
Yolanda Mesula on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/62yolanda26/
Tina Banana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinabananananana/
What Led to Taiwan’s Same Sex Marriage? Ep 83: https://talkingtaiwan.com/what-led-to-taiwans-same-sex-marriage-ep-83/
Taiwan Hosts WorldPride 2025: Our Conversation with Darien Chen and Amazin LeThi (Episode 162): https://talkingtaiwan.com/taiwan-hosts-worldpride-2025-our-conversation-with-darien-chen-and-amazin-lethi-ep-162/
What Caused the Cancellation of WorldPride Taiwan 2025? Our Discussion with David Yu Ep 220: https://talkingtaiwan.com/what-caused-the-cancellation-of-worldpride-taiwan-2025-our-discussion-with-david-yu-ep-220/